How to: Make a Flaming Pumpkin for Halloween

If your kids have outgrown inflatables and you are looking for a little bit of edge to amaze this year’s Halloween Trick-or-Treaters, try out a flaming pumpkin.

Gather Supplies

Pumpkin

Pumpkin carving tools

Toilet paper

Flexible lighter

Kerosene

Fire extinguisher

Flame-resistant work gloves

(Note: Buying something from our links helps support this free content that we share!)

Do the How To

Gather supplies and carve the pumpkin.

The first step in this project is gathering all of the supplies and then carving the pumpkin like a Jack-o-Lantern. Make sure to hollow out the inside so there is a cavity open. The flames will escape from any holes, so keep that in mind as you are crafting your design.

We’ve used fun packs of carving tools, power tools, and all kinds of cutting implements to create pumpkin art. Just make sure you work on a level surface and never attempt to use a new tool without reading all of the instructions.

Set up for fire safety.

Before setting the pumpkin on fire, it’s important to take a few safety steps now. Set that fire extinguisher nearby (and review how to use it). Then, set the pumpkin on a nonflammable area in the lawn that is at least 3 or 4 feet away from anything that could burn (like inflatables or other decorations).

Some set their flaming pumpkin on sand or dirt to be safe, and others choose to set it inside an open metal fire pit on the front lawn.

Then, show any kids or kid-like grown-ups at your home where you will be lighting the pumpkin on fire, and that they should steer clear of it. (This announcement will probably draw a small crowd of curious household members.)

Insert the toilet paper into the pumpkin.

Take the top off of the Jack-o-Lantern, and then place a roll of toilet paper inside the pumpkin’s inner cavity. Keep a few toilet paper rolls on hand (but not close) to the pumpkin, so you can keep flaming the pumpkin throughout trick-or-treating time.

Pour kerosene on the toilet paper inside the pumpkin.

We’ve never measured the amount of kerosene, but we can say that we pour just enough on the toilet paper roll so that it is soaked but not standing in a puddle.

Note: Be careful not to let the kerosene leak out of any of the pumpkins holes. Any on the ground could lead to a fire safety issues.

Light the flaming pumpkin.

If there are large carved holes, you could extend the gooseneck of the lighter into those to light the toilet paper. Or, carefully extend it into the top to light the toilet paper.

Then, stand back and enjoy. It may burn for 20 minutes to an hour, depending on the wind, how much kerosene is in there, and the kind of toilet paper used.

Check the pumpkin to make sure it’s extinguished.

Before heading inside the house, make sure the flame is fully extinguished. And don’t head inside for ‘just a minute’ to reload on trick-or-treat candy while it’s burning. It just takes a minute for disaster to happen.